Isaac b



(No Model.)

I. B. SHELBY.

CRATE FOB FRUIT, m.

Patented Jan. 13, 1885.

WITNESSES:

N. PETERS. Plm

Units 'rarns Parana rrrnne ISAAC B. SEELEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CRATE FOR FRUBT,3LC.

SPECIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 310,730, dated January 13, 1885.

Application filed August 31, 1881. (No model.) Q

To aZZ whom it may concern/.-

Be it known that I, ISAAC B. SEELEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Grates for Fruit, &c., which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top or plan view of the crate embodying my invention, the lid being opened. Fig. 2 is a vertical section thereof, the lid be ing closed.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre sponding parts in the two figures.

My invention, relating to the class of fruitcrates, has for its object the safe transportation of the fruit, 8m; and it consists in con-- structing the body of the crate of slats and corner-posts, which make a light and inexpensive structure, and providing thelid with cleats,which are adapted to compress the baskets from above, fitted within the body. The tops of the corner-posts are cut away, so that the cleats abut against the body of the crate, thus providing a solid and compact crate, in which the baskets are prevented from shifting and crushing, all as will be hereinafter set forth. Referring to the drawings, A represents a crate, consisting of the body B, of the form of a box, and the lid 0, hinged or otherwise connected thereto to admit of ready opening and closing, said box receiving baskets of fruit, vegetables, 850. From the under side of the lid there depend cleats D D, the cleats D being secured to the lid near the side edges thereof, and the cleat D being secured to the lid between the cleats D.

It will be noticed that the side cleats, D, occupy such positions that when the lid is closed they are within the wall of the box 13, thus not interfering with the closing of the lid, and that the height of the cleats is slightly greater than the space existing between the under side of the lid and the top edges of the baskets when the latter are first placed in the body.

, It will also be noticed that the eleat D is so disposed that when the lid is closed said cleat overhangs the top edges of contiguous or adjacent baskets, which edges, when, as in the present case, four baskets are employed, are at the middle of the box, and the cleats D overhang the top edges of the baskets at the sides of the box; consequently when the lid is secured the cleats press firmly against the tops of the baskets at the overhanging places stated and hold them on the bottom of the box, each basket being held on top at two opposite places, and consequently prevented from shifting in any direction.

As the baskets are clamped down on their top edges their contents are not squeezed or pressed by the cleats, the space of the box between the lid and baskets admitting of the reception of baskets filled above their level, and the closing of the box containing them with the security of the same without injury to their contents by the clamping-cleats.

Then the crates are employed with baskets arranged in tiers, I place a cleated partition between the tiers, the same being similar to the cleated lid 0 D D, excepting that it is made of less dimensions than the latter,'so as to enter the box and rest on. one tier of baskets and support the tier above, the lid being employed at the top of the box, as in the preceding case. 7

Furthermore, the sides and bottom of the body of the crate are constructed of separated slats A and posts B, which occupy the inner corners of the crate, thus forming a light, strong, and inexpensive body. The posts are cut away at the top or depressed, as at A, so as to be below the upper edge of the upper slat of the body, and the cleats D of the lid thus impact themselves on the cutaway top of the corner-posts, while the lid impacts itself against the upper slat of the crate, whereby the lid is compressed on the body in two ways one by means of itself on the upper slats of the body, and the other by means of the connected cleats 011 the corner-posts-so that when the baskets are fitted within the body and the lid is closed the cleats first compress the baskets and then abut solidly against the corner posts, and the lid finally abuts solidly against the upper slats. This makes the crate solid and compact, and prevents crushing and shifting of the baskets, which features, added to the lightness and inexpensiveness of the body, make the crate of a superior nature.

The feature of the lid abutting against the 7 upper slat of the crate and the cleats against the tops of the corner-posts, whereby the lid is forced against the body of the crate in two Ways, has the following advantages: hen the lid is dropped, the blow on the body is receivedboth by the top slats and corner-posts, thus diffusing said blows or strain. the crates are piled one on top of the other, the weight on each lid is received both by the top slats and corner-posts, thus diffusing the Weight and keeping the body intact.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

hen- The improved crate, consisting of a body 15 formed of the slats A and corner-posts B, with cut-away or depressed tops A, and alid with depending cleats D, the lid abutting against the top slats of the body, and the cleats abutting against'the depressed tops of the posts-while compressing the baskets within the body, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

ISA AC B; SEELEY.

Vitnesses:

W. F. KIROHER, H. E. GARSED. 

